Pickup and baler



April 13, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL PICKUP AND BALER Filed March 10, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet l I .Zhvenion- Sifczn Zqyfifiussea SM, w

April 1954 s. D. RUSSELL 2,674,839

PICKUP AND BALER l3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1948 A ril 13, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL 2,674,839

- PICKUP AND BALER Filed March 10, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 5. J89 a! I I II I II I i, 27a

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April 13, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL 2,674,839 PICKUP AND BALER Filed March 10. 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 13, 1954 D. RUSSELL PICKUP AND BALER l3 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 10. 1948 April 13, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL PICKUP AND BALER l3 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 10, 1948 April 1954 s. D. RUSSELL I 2,674,839

PICKUP AND BALER Filed March 10, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 April 3, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL 2,674,839

PICKUP AND BALER Filed March 10, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 [Bi J April 13, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL PICKUP AND BALER 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March 10, 1948 ZQgJfi %409 I I 103 jnvenion- SianZgyDfussell al, v

April 3. s. D. RUSSELL 2,674,839

PICKUP AND BALER Filed March 10, 1948 132.2 1 I l 2/cz 13 Sheets-Sheet l1 jzan z afiwsezz. 5 WW MM April 13, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL PICKUP AND BALER l3 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed March 10, 1948 April 13, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL PICKUP AND BALER 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed March 10, 1948 Patented Apr. 13, 1954 PICKUP AND BALER Stanley D. Russell, Racine, Wis., assignor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 10, 1948, Serial No. 13,969

10 Claims. (01. 56-341) The present invention relates generally to balers, and, in particular, relates to an improved pick-up baler construction.

When it is desired to store hay or the like in bales, the hay is out by a mower and is then raked into long swaths or windrows. The cut hay is allowed to cure in the windrows until it is in the proper condition for storage. When it is desired to bale the hay, there are two general methods which are used. The first method requires the use of a hay loader which is pulled along the windrow to convey the cut hay onto a suitable hay rack or the like. The picked up hay is carried to a stationary baler where it is compressed into bales of the proper size. The bales may then be stored in a loft in the usual manner.

The second, and more popular, method of baling, employs a pick-up type baler which is adapted to be moved along a windrow by a suitable draft means; the baler picks up the Windrowed hay, bales it, and deposits the baled hay upon the ground or upon a trailing wagon. This method or baling requires much less labor, because the hay is handled only in the baled condition. The present invention relates particularly to the construction of pick-up balers.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved form or" feed means for delivering material to a baling chamber. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved feed means, which compresses the material as it is fed into the baling chamber. A further object is to provide a feed means of the type described which compresses the material into a relatively thin ribbon of substantially uniform density. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure progresses with respect to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the right hand side of the prime mover which forms a part of a self-propelled baler constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the left side of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic, plan view of the drive mechanism of a self-propelled baler constructed in accordance with the invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the variable speed V-belt assembly portion of the prime mover illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-45 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective view'of the drive elements which operatively connect the prime mover to the baling mechanism, as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved windrow pick-up which forms a part of the baler of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the pickup which is illustrated in Fig. 8, with parts omitted or broken away. This view is taken on a line which extends parallel to the line of draft of the implement;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hold down strips used in the .construction of the wind guard which forms apart of the pickup illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the position .of the hold down strips when the wind guard is in the alternative position;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the feeding mechanism which forms an important part of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, perspective plan view of the feeding mechanism illustrated in Fig. 12, some parts being cut away;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the feed belts which form a part of the feeding unit illustrated in the preceding figures;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic, plan View of the drive arrangement for the feeding unit;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the novel belt aligning pulley seen particularly in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a schematic plan view of the pickup unit, illustrating the use of the apparatus in accordance with the invention as a windrow mover;

Fig. 17a is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 1'7, which further illustrates certain features of the apparatus when in use as a windrow mover;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective view of the baling piston and its associated baling chamber; 1

Fig. 19 is an enlarged plan view of one of the novel wedges forming a part of the baling chamber illustrated particularly in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an elevational view of the structure inFig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a structure in Fig. a, with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 21a is a reduced scale view taken on line 2Ia-2Ia of Fig. 21; I

Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective View of a novel adjustable bale case which is emin accordance with the invention is driven'fr'om' a ground wheel;

Fig. 250:. is an enlarged sectional. viewtaken generally along the line Hot-w in Fig. 25, with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show certain structural featuresi" Fig. 25b is an enlarged sectional view-taken on line 2512-2512 in Fig..{25a, with parts broken awayand; nsccticnzand.

. .Eis. 6.. a. .pe sp o ire. fr gme tary 'v w showmerase fru wercd. h llyp b e ying the features of the invention, H H

.E ck-unlbal rsare of twp.. n r 1 pe h pull-type. and theself propelled type. The selfpropelled baler includeslrasgan integral unit, a prime mover whicnis, adapted. to move the implement. about the. field as. well. as -11 provide the; powento drivethe various mechanisms which are. necessaryto thaeflicient operation of the baler. The pull-type implement is drawn by a tractor. or .othenydrafte yehiole and is, powered from a powentake-ofhfrom. a. separate engine, or from-an operative connection to one. of the ground wheels. The balerltol-be discussed in o the greatest detail..is.of.- theself-propelled type, but it wi1l..be.-.apparent.that the. various. features of the invention. are; equally. applicable to both typeset balers.-.

.-.Th.is..pantic'ular embodiment of. aself-propelled baler comprises. a.prime mover? whichincludes a frame. portion F on which. are. journalled. suitable supportwheelssothat the. apparatus can be moved about a field mwindrow. pick-up unit. W, a. feedingunit. G,.a-baling. chamber 13, an addustablabale. case C andra bale. tying or fastening meanseilf... For convenience, the. various elements of the implement will. be individually discussedunderseveralsub-titlest 7 more The prime mover P in the self-propelled" baler, is-adaptedto support the various elements of the balerfor movement about-the'field, and to provide the power which is necessary to energize the various mechanisms of the baler as well as the power which required to move the baler about the field. The prime mover P includes a generally r shaped frame F (Figs; 1' and 3') which comprises" a longitudinally' extending section which is adapted to be" supported by a support wheel at its forwardend, a plurality of structural 'members' which form the'" baling chamber B and the bale-case Get the rearward end of the longitu'dinaily extending section, and a transversely extending; outrigger-like frame which is adapted to support the windrow'pi'ck up W- and the crop feeding means G. Thewh'eel' 30 supports the'forward end of the longitudinally extending frame and a pair of spaced apart support wheels 32- and 33" are journalled" onto an axle 35 which forms a part of theoutrigger-like frame. 31.

In the structure lusti'atetlt the seaward and of the longitudinally extending frame and the motive power for the various elements are provided by the forward portion of a tricycle type, medium-sized, tractor M. The part of the tractor M which is employed in the structure, is that part which is normally ahead of the transmission, and includes the forward wheel assembly, the steering mechanism, the engine, the clutch, and the usual propeller shaft. The main structural members which form the rearward end of the longitudinally extending frame are a pair of rearwardly extending, parallel, spaced-apart angle members 31 (Figs. 1, 2, and 22) which form a: suitable support under the baling chamber B and the bale-case C. The angle members 31 are suitably braced by appropriate bracing members'S'B.

The: power for the windrow pick-up unit W, the crop feeding unit G, and the baling mechanism and the power to move the implement about they held is transmitted from the engine by a propeller shaft fi l (Fig. 3) to a cross shaft 43 by means of a bevel gear set 15. The crossshaft 53 is journalled into suitable bearings on the frame F of the implement. A drive pulley M is keyed to one end of the cross shaft &3 and the pulley 41 is adapted, to drive the various elements of the harvester. The other end of the cross shaft 43 is connected into a conventional, threespeed transmission, and clutch combination 49, adapted to transmit the power necessary to move the implement about the field. Power is transmitted to the support wheel 33 from the threespeed transmission 49 by means of a novel V-belt, variable speed drive assembly 51 and a series of chains and. sprockets. The variable, V-belt, drive assembly 51 is adapted to be continuously adjustable so that the rate of movement of the baler canbe maintained at the optimum baling speed.

The V-belt assembly 5! (Figs. 4, 5, and 6) includes a. pair. of spaced-apart. adjustable-width pulleys 53 and 53 which are connected by a V- belt. 55. Pulley 5.3. is attached to the output shaft 56 of the three-speed transmission 59 and the other pulley, 53,. is attached to a cross shaft 51 which isrotatably i urnalled in the main frame F. The end portion 13 of each of the shafts 56 and. 5.1. is splined so. that the spacing of the pulleys can be. adjusted on the shafts.

The adjustable pulleys 53 and. 53 are constructed in an identical manner so that in the following. description only pulley 53 will be described. The pulley 53 includes an inner disc. 59 which is movable toward and away from a fixed outer disc 61. Theouter disc 61 is rigidly attached to. the end of the shaft 51 by means of a capscrew 63 whichengages a thrust plate 65 on the end of the shaft 5? (Fig. 5). The thrust plate may be conveniently attached to the shaft 51 by means of a cap screw 69. The inner face 'l-l ofthe outer disc it] tapers inwardly towards the center of the disc at the same slope as the face of the VI-belt- 55 so that a constant contact force will be maintained between the face of the belt 55-and-theinner face H of the disc M. The hub of the movable or inner disc 55- engages the splined portion of the shaft -51 and is movable Iong-itudinally therealong. The outer face 15 of the inner disc 59 tapers outwardly so that it engages the inner-face of the V-belt 55. The inner disc 59 may be biased inwardly, toward the frame F, by'means-ofa coilespring H which can be disposed within a recess [9 in the hub'portion of the outer disc BI (Fig. 5'). The inner and outer discs 59 and 6| respectively, are each provided with reinforcing webs 8| to strengthen the faces of the discs which co-act with the V-belts 55. In order that the pulleys may be statically and dynamically balanced, counter-weighting portions 83 are formed as an integral part of each of the discs and these may be drilled out to balance the assemblage.

Relative positioning of the inner and outer discs, 59 and 6|, is accomplished by means of a sleeve 85 which is journalled for free rotation relative to the splined portion I3 of the shaft 51. A thrust-type ball bearing ring 81 is provided between the disc positioning sleeve 85 and the inner disc 59 so that the rotation of the inner disc does not rotate the sleeve 85; the ball bearing rin 81 is held in position by a pair of snap rings 88. The inner face 89 of thedisc positioning sleeve 85 is a cam surface and this face co-acts. with a complementary, mating, cam surface 9| fixedly attached to the main fram F. The forces resulting from rotation of the sleeve 85 and the resulting relative movement of the cam surfaces 89 and 9| will effect longitudinal movement of the sleeve 85 along the spline portion 13 of the shaft 57. This longitudinal movement of the sleeve 85 will, in turn, eifect movement of the inner disc 59 outwardly relative to the outer disc 6| and the spring 1! or the tension of the belt 55 alone, will separate the discs when the disc adjusting sleeve 85 is rotated in the opposite direction.

. The pulley 53 is provided with a cam-surfaced, adjusting sleeve 85' whichis similar to the adjusting sleeve 85 which has been described in connection with pulley 53. The two sleeves are mechanically interconnected so as to move togetherby means of a pair of flexible strips of metal IOI which are joined by an adjustable, re-

silient, shock absorber and tensioning device I03 (Fig. 6). The pulleys are relatively positioned by means of the interconnected, disc-positioning sleeves 85 and 85' and any increase in spacing between the discs on one pulley will automatically decrease the spacing between the discs on the other pulley an equivalent amount. This assures the maintenance of the V-belt 55 at proper ten-- sion at all times.

Adjustment of the position of the sleeves 85 and 85' is accomplished by means of a sprocket 93 which forms an integral part of the sleeve 85 on the pulley 53. Movement of this sprocket is effected from a hand wheel 95 which is located on the baler frame within reach of the baler operator. The hand wheel 95 is keyed to a suitable shaft 9! which is journalled in the frame F, and a sprocket 99 attached to the shaft 91 is connected to the sprocket 93 on the sleeve 85 by means of a suitable chain and sprocket linkage I00.

The cam surfaces associated with the forward pulley 53' are a mirror image of the cam surfaces associated with the rearward pulley 53 so that upon rotation of the sleeves 85 and 85' in the same direction, the faces on one pulley will move apart while the faces on the other pulley will move together the same distance. This movement causes the effective diameter of each of the pulleys, as applies to the V-belt 55, to change, and thus makes possible smooth and accurate adjustment of the speed of the implement. .In the structure illustrated, the connection between the positioning sleeves 85 and 85 is made on the lower side of each of the sleeves; but if the direction of the camsurfaces should be reversed, the

connection would be-made on the upper side of each of the sleeves.

Under some conditions it may be desirable to eliminate the pair of mating cam surfaces on one of the pulleys and the strip connecting means. In this case the effective diameter of the pulleys can be controlled by adjusting one of the pulleys in the described manner, and spring biasing the movable disc of the other pulley against the V- belt so that it automatically compensates for the change in diameter of the first pulley.

The resilient shock absorber I03 which joins the flexible strips IOI includes a body portion I05 which is attached at one end to one of the strips Illl and a plunger-like member which includes a threaded rod I08 having a spacer member II 0 attached to its end. The spacer member IIO of the plunger-like member I0! is adapted to move within the body portion I05 and the other end of the threaded rod I00 is attached to the other of the flexible strips I 0| The spacer member I I0 is biased by means of a coil spring I09 within the body of the shock absorber I53 so as to resist longitudinal forces which tend to extend the strips i0I. Adjustment of the spring tension in the shock absorber I03 is accomplished by means of a threaded, positionin bushing I I I which engages the threaded rod portion I08 of the plungerlike member I01 (Fig. 6). The bushing III abuts against the outer end of the body I05 of the shock absorber I03. A decrease in the overall length of the shock absorber increases the tension on the belt 55.

A brake for the implement maybe provided by a brake shoe II5 which engages the rim of the outer disc SI of the rear pulley 53 and the pressure of the brake shoe H5 may be conveniently controlled by means of a foot pedal IIB (Fig. 2) located near the baler operator.

A sprocket H1 is attachedto the outer end of the cross shaft 51 and the sprocket II! is connected to a sprocket I I9 on a second cross shaft I2I by means of a chain I23. A sprocket I25 is keyed to the other end of shaft I 2I, and this sprocket is operatively connected by means of a chain I29 to a sprocket I21 attached to the ground wheel 33. Power is thus positively transmitted from the V-belt drive 5| to the drive wheel 33 by means of the sprocket and chain connections.

It will be noted that the two tires I 3| and I33 on the drive wheel 33 are of differing sizes, the outer tire I33 having a diameter which is 2 to 3 inches less than the diameter of the inner tire I3 I. It has been found that this arrangement of the drive wheel tires provides more positive traction in a soft field and facilitates the efficient movement of the implement about the field by its single driven wheel.

The novel variable V-belt drive which has been described in the foregoing may be used either alone or in combination with a conventional three-speed transmission to accurately control the ground speed of the baler. However, the combination of the three-speed transmission and the variable V-belt drive permits extremely accurate adjustment between the speeds of the transmission without requiring unduly large variations in the effective diameters of the pulleys.

One of the important features of the drive unit is that the tractor engine is normally operated at a constant speed during th operation of the im-- plement, while the ground speed is varied by means of the three-speed transmission and the variable V beltdrive. This feature of a con- 7 staat enginespeeuananariabieigroimdispeed en ables the operator to run thesimplement iadong the'ground at tlrepptimum:speed forzbahngIwhile, at the same time drivingithe: bailing: mechanism atarconstant speed from the engineaf'Thus; the bailing mechanism: can be. operated pick: the material to; be baled at '"asu'bs'tantiazlly unis form rate, regardless of. the: size of :'the:- windliow; Also, the baling mechanism will ibelsubjectedr to less wear because itsspeect doesnotfvary'when the speed ofxthe implement: alongth'egroundiis changed.

V Windiow pick-up unit The -windrow pick-up: unit indicated generally as the drawings andwparticularly shown-in Figs; 8 and 9,.--is,- adapted to pick the. windrowed hayor other-crop material from thegroun'd: and to move the picked-up material to the feeding unit G. which conveysit into the baling chamber B. The pick-up unitW is'hingedly mounted atthe forward end of the feeding unit G and is adjustable in a vertical direction. The feeding unit G- is in turn supported upon the outriggerlike frame 3i, which extends transversely to the line'of draft of theimplement. The various elements of the windrow pick-upW are supported upon'asuitable frame; structure which includes; at either end thereof, adownwardly extending, generally triangular shaped. plate member 535. The upperend of each of the plate members 135 is attached to the feeding unit G by means of a transversely disposed, horizontalv hinge pin. I-Bl. The plates I35are reinforced by suitable angle and plate members. indicated at I33 and I38ain the drawings. (Fig. 9)

Thapick-up includes a rotatable, skeletonized, inner. cylinder 53$, supported upon a shaft 1 H which is journalled in suitable bearings; M2 attached to: a pair of supporting arms IE3. The rearward ends-of the arms {53 are integrally attached to the plate L35. The bearings. I42 at each end offthe rotatable cylinder I39 are provided with a bearing guard M which prevents weeds. 'andtrash from winding about the bearing M2. and, the shaft 1 3 I. The construction of the bearing guardl liik is described. and claimed in co-pendin-g application Serial No. '7i8,643- which wasfiled. on. October 8, 1947 issued October- 21,

signed to. theassignee of the present invention.

The cylinder I39=supports a plurality of pick-up tines it} which are arranged in rows and which are adapted to project between spaced-apart stripper plates I49 supported upon the frame of the pick-up. The stripper plates 45 define a generally cylindrical surface which extends around the cylinder I39. Each of the stripper plates I49 is fabricated from a single strip of metal having turned-up edges ISI which extend around the outer periphery of the cylindrical surface as shown particularly in Fig. 12. The turned-up edges. I5! have important advantages over the prior arrangement. They reinforce the stripper plates I59 and aid in efliciently pulling the crop material off the pick-up tines :47. Also, they effectively prevent material from becoming wedged in the spaces between the stripper plates I49, thereby increasing the efiiciency and reliability of operation of the complete apparatus.

The rearward edges of the upper portions of each of the stripper plates Hi9 are attached to a suitable transversely extending member I53 which extends between the end plates I35 of the pick-up unit frame (Fig. 9). The lower portions ottheistrippehblafis are some togetherib iia transversely: extendihgmenibeir'itfii istate tachedratieach endito 'onetofi the plate members I35. Thus; the stripper plates tlls'anditheirotats ablev inner cylinder 13's are "botli hingedly sup.- portedfor vertical movementrelative to the feed ing'unit by means of the co-axial hinge-pins 131i. I

The weight, or a large portion of the weight, of theiwindrow pick-up' W issupported by means of omr: or. more? counter-balancing springs such ase'the pair of spaced." apart, coiled; counter balancing springs I51, each of which acts along a guide 'rodI 59. The upper end of the guide rod I'EiEis' hinged'ly'attached to. one of the reinforcing piates" I3-8cr by a hinge: pin I50, and the lower end or the: guidesrod slides freely a bracket r64 which is rigidly: attached to the. outrigger-like frame" 3t. The position of the pivot pins I31, the position of the hinged connection between the guiderodl I fie and the reinforcing plate Ind, and thedireotion of the force exerted by the spring; which-is determihedby the guide rod, are such that the weight-of the: pick-up unit W will just overcome the biasing'a'ction or the spring [5! when the pick-up is in theoperating position. The spring I5? acts upon the pick-up unit W through a lever arn'iv whose length is determined by the angular position. of the'hinge pm let. relative tothe hinge pin I3l. Whenfthe' axis ofrod l'5eand the-p'ins I37 and {Stare all disposed along a straight line, there is no lever andnoflift ing; force is applied" to the pick-up unit. When the.- piclvup: unit is raised to a. position which causcs'pins I31 and IE8 to-fall upon aline which is perpendicular to the rod 159, a lever arm of maximum length results. As the pick-up is rm'sed towards the transport position, the effective length; of the lever ar'm between the hinge pins 131 and Ifillis; increased. The reaction'o'f the. spring I5? is decreased by its becoming extended and the biasing force of the combined lever arm: and spring remains substantially constant. The pick-up unit W will then remain. in either the lowered or operative position or in the raised or'transport position when. the spring- I5? is-properly adjusted.

Hold-down strips I53 are provided for holding the pickup crop material in contact with the stripper plates I49. and a pair of suitable flared endmembers I65 direct the crop material which is picked up by the tines M! to the feeding unit, F. The construction and: positioning of: the hold-downstrip's- I63 constitute another novel feature of the structure and are illustrated particularly in Figs; 9, l0, andv 11; The hold-down strips. I-Ii3- are attached to a transversely extending-tube: or rod member I66, each endof which is journalled intoa forwardly extending member 15;} attached-to" each of the fiaredend members 55; Each-of the forwardly extending members i61 is provided, with a. plurality of." spacedeapart bearing holes- I69 so that the position of. the holddown strips G53 canbe adjusted; for. varying crop conditions. The holdsdown strips I63 are suitably curved. and are rigidly attached to the transversely extending rod 186? in a spaced-apart relationship across the pick up. A. positioning bracket Ill is attached to one end of the transversely extending rod I56 so as to deter-mine a lowered. and a raised position for the hold-down strips. The, bracket i 'II. includes a. rectangular plateportio'zi [I3 whichis attached to .the rod. I 66 mia'pos'ition'parallel t6 the. forwardly, shearin member i 67 and a cent over fiat 'siirfacedtab or ear portion I15. The flat surface of the tab I15 engages the lower edge of the forwardly extending member I91 so as to determine the lowered position of the hold-down strips (Fig. In this position, the hold-down strips I93 are main tained a few inches above the stripper plates I49 (Fig. 9). The rearward edge of the tab I is cut away so that it permits the hold-down strips I93 to be moved to the vertical position (Fig. 11) before it engages the lower edge of the forwardly extending member movement. In the raised position the hold-down strips serve to protect the operator from becoming entangled with the rotating tines if it becomes necessary to clear the material from the machine during operation.

It has been determined that hold-down strips as described above, which are not resiliently biased toward the stripper plates, as in the prior structures, substantially eliminate stoppages of the equipment due to clogging, and result in more even feeding under extremely light loads. The construction of the hold-down strips I63 is such that they serve the dual purpose of holding material against the stripper plates and, at the same time, of protecting the operator from coming in contact with the rotatable tines. In addition, when the machine is used as a stationary baler, the hold-down strips may be raised to form a battle which causes all of the material pitched into the machine to be fed into the baler.

Preferably the pick-up unit is driven from a connection to one of the drive wheels of the implement. This connection may include a serrated power take off pulley or roller I11 (Fig. 2) Which is adapted to be engaged against the inner tire I 3I of the drive wheel 33 by means-of a rod I19 which extends forwardly to a point adjacent the operators position. The serrated pulley I11 is keyed to a shaft I 9i which is suitably journalled into an adjustably positionable bearing I83 attached to the frame F. A sprocket I85 is keyed to the other end of the shaft I9 I, and this sprocket I85 is operatively attached to a sprocket I81 on a cross shaft I89 by means of a suitable drive chain I9I. The cross shaft I99 is journalled at one end in the frame of the implement, and at the other end into the frame of the pick-up unit, and is connected to the pick-up by means which includes a longitudinally extensible shaft section, a pair of universal joints I93, which permit the pick-up unit W to move relative to the main frame of the implement, a sprocket I95, and a chain I99 which operatively joins the sprocket I95 with a sprocket I91 keyed to the end of the pick-up cylinder shaft I II. tween the pick-up cylinder and the ground wheel I 91 and prevents further The connection be- 1 insures that the peripheral speed of the pick up cylinder will at all times be proportional to the ground speed of the implement. will move at a speed in a predetermined relation to the ground speed of the implement and will Thus, the tinesefficiently ick up windrowed material at all speeds of the implement.

If it is desired to drive the pick up cylinder at a speed proportional to the ground speed of the implement without employing a friction drive such as the serrated pulley I11, a direct connection can be made between shaft I89 and the shaft I2I which is one of the drive elements for the implement. In this connection, it should be noted that shafts I 2: and I89 turn in opposite directions and that a reversing means must be used, as

for example, a crossed belt and-two pulleys.

The housing 295 also includes ing belts 10 Feeding unit The feeding unit G, shown especially in Figs. 8, 12, 13, 14, and 15 in the drawings, is adapted to deliver the crop material from the windrow pick-up unit W into the baling chamber B. The feeding unit G comprises an anger I99 which is disposed transversely to the line of draft of the implement and a pair of vertically disposed, transversely extending, converging feed belts 2M and 293 which are adapted to deliver the material 1 into the baling chamber B in a precompressed, vertical ribbon. The feeding mechanism is supported on the outrigger-like frame'3I within a suitable housing 295. The housing 295 includes a bottom member 291, an end member 299 which seals off the outer end of the feeding mechanism,

a back member 2H which is hingedly supported 7 at its bottom edge by a pair of hinges 2I2 (Figs.

17 and 17a) so that it can be lowered to form a rearwardly extending, downwardly inclined, platthe pick-up unit W, in order that all material which is gathered up by the pick-up unit W will be conveniently moved into the feeding unit G. suitable cover plates 2| 4 which are adapted to protectively surround all of the moving elements unit G.

The auger I 99 includes a central core 2| 5 which is provided with a journal size, at each end (Fig. 17). A spirally formed member 2I9 is welded or otherwise fastened to the cylindrical core m to define the flight of'the auger, and the direction of rotation of the auger is such that the material collected by the pickup is delivered into the nip formed by the feed- 29I and 293. The auger flight 2I9 may I be formed from one piece of metal or, more con,- veniently, may be fabricated from a series of short segments which are Welded together to form the complete spiral. The journal section.

portion 2I1 at the outer end of the auger I99 is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing 222 in the end member 209 of the housing 205, and the j at the inner end of'the auger journalportion 2 I1 I99 is journalled in upon a bracket 22I housing 295 (Fig. 12). I y

A stripper bar 229, which is proportioned to 00- act with the auger I99,

a hearing which is supported the back member 2| I and the top member 2I3.

The stripper bar 223 co-acts with the auger I99 in the usual manner, and causes crop material to move inwardly towards the feed belts 29I and v 293 instead of traveling around the auger I99.

The pair of transversely extending, disposed, converging feed belts MI and 293 extend from thedelivery end of the auger I99 to a point adjacent an inlet opening 225 intothe baling chamber 3 (Figs. 13 and 14). The inner or co-ac'ting runs of the feed belts 29I and 293 form a receiving nipadjacent the delivery end of the auger I99 and then converge as they approach the J increased in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, by resiliently biasing the forward feed belt 29I against the rearward feed belt 293 as will hereinafter be described.

of the feeding portion 2I1 of reduced attached to a member of the is supported in the housing'295 at a point adjacent the juncture between vertically I Each of the feed belts Y201 and 203 comprises a plurality of continuous strips of flat belting 221 and Mia, respectively (Fig. 14) which are suitably supported on vertically extending rollers 23in, 2631b, and 2M0, and 293a, 293b, 2930, and 253d. The face or" each of the rollers is provided with spaced-apart ridges 229 which are adapted to guide the individual strips of belting 221 and to maintain them in a predetermined position.

The rollers 283m, 203?), 2ii3c, and 203d for the rear feed belt 293 are rotatably journalled into a sub-frame 23! which includes an upper plate 233, a lower plate 235, and vertically extending strengthening and spacing members 231. The guide rollers 283a and 263b, which support the inner faces of belt sections 221a, are rotatably journalled adjacent the forward edge of the subframe 23 i, at its inner and outer ends respectively. The guide roller 2930; which is disposed adjacent the inlet 225 to the baling chamber, should be of small diameter so that the crop materials are thrown into the baling chamber instead of following the belts 227a around the roller 20311, as would be the case if a larger diameter roller were used. The driving roller 283d is of relatively large diameter and is positioned to the rear of the inner run of the belt 22111, in a position intermediate the guide rollers 203a and 20311. The driving roller 23311 is supported upon a vertically extending shaft 239 which is long enough to extend through both the bottom 20'! and the top 2 l3 of the feeding unit housing 285. The proper belt wrap for the drive roller 23311 is obtained by providing a take up roller, indicated at 2030, to th rear of the driving roller 203d. The take up roller 2630 is journalled into a frame 240 which is slidably supported in transversely extending slots 2M in the upper and lower plates 233 and 235 respectively, and is made adjustable in a transverse direction by means of a pair of threaded, adjusting rods 243 which extend through suitably spaced holes in. the vertical frame member 237. Accurate adjustment is made possible by threaded hand knobs 245 which engage the threaded adjusting rods 243.

The sub-frame 23! for the rearward feed belt 263 is held in a fixed position relative to the feeding unit mechanism by means of a novel spring latch arrangement 24'! which is illustrated, particularly, in Fig. 14. The spring latch arrangement 24'! includes a vertically extending spacer rod 248 which is attached at its ends to the upper and lower plates 233 and 235 of the sub-frame 23 l. The connection between the vertically extending spacer rod 248 and the'plates 233 and 235 may include a pair of L-shaped castings 250 and 259a which serve to reinforce the connections. A pair of outwardly extending cantilever members 252 and 252a are attached to the vertically extending spacer rod 248 in positions which are spaced from each of the L-shaped castings 250 and 250a. Coaxial holes, which are adapted to receive a pair of latching pins 254 and 25%, are drilled through the cantilever members 252 and 252a, the L-shaped castings 250 and 25%, the plates 233 and 235, and the top and bottom members 253! and 2i3 of th feeding unit housing. The holes are positioned so that when they ar aligned the sub-frame 23! and the associated feed belt 293 are in the proper position, relative to the feed belt 213 I, to insure effective precompression of the crop materials being baled.

The latching pins orslide bolts 254 and 254a. extend through the drilled holes in the top and bottom members 2l3 and 20-1 respectively-of the feed unit housing. The pins 254 and 254a. are biased into engagement with the top and bottom members of the feed unit housing by means of coiled springs 25% which act against a washer 258 or other projection which is attached to the shank of each of the sliding belts or pins 254 and 25%. Bell crank levers 288 and 259a are pivotally connected to the outwardly extending cant lever members 252 and 252a, respectively. Each of the bell crank levers 26B and Zcild is positioned so that one of its arms extends generally vertically along the spacing member and the other of its arms engages the free end of the bolt or looking pin adjacent the cantilever members.

When the arms of the bell crank levers and the spacer rod are squeezed together by hand, the biasing action of the springs 25% is overcome and the latching bolts or pins 254 and 25 2a are retracted from the holes in th upper and lower covers H3 and 26? respectively. The inner end of the feed belt sub-frame 231 and its associated rollers and belts then may be swung rearwardly about the drive roll shaft 239. This construction facilitates access to the baling chamber opening 225 for maintenance or repair of the balirrg plunger.

The forward feed belt 26! also includes a subframe 251, three sections of flat belting 22?, and the supporting rollers 281a, 295b, and Zilicfor the belt sections. These rollers are provided with the ridges 229 for guiding and positioning the belt sections and are supported by suitable bearings on the sub-frame 251 (Figs. 12 and 14). The drive roller 2811) for the forward feed belt i is positioned at the outer end of the sub-frame 25L The drive roller am is supported upon an elongated shaft 249 which is adapted to extend through the top 213 and the bottom 29? of the feed unit housing 205; the inner end of the feed belt is provided with a guide roller 261a of a suitable small diameter, similar to the roller 263a. The sub-frame 254 includes top and bottom plate members 253 and 255, and a vertical, spacing and strengthening member 25?. The take up roller 2010 is supported in aseparatc, U-shaped frame 259 which is slidably supported in slots 2% in the upper and lower plates 253 and 255, the slots 26! extending transversely to. the line of movement of the inner face of the forward feed belt. Adjusting rods 263 are provided which extend through the fixed vertical frame member 25?, and

these co-act with threaded knobs 265 similar to I the knobs 245 used to adjust the tension in the rearward feed belt.

The forward feed belt 201 is biased to the position shown in Figs. l2, l3, and 14 by a spring 269, and adapted to swing about the drive roll shaft 249 toward and away from the other feed belt 253. At the inner end of the sub-frame 25l there is a vertically extending, curved, metal plate 26'! which co-acts with the outer surface of the ba ling chamber B to prevent the loss of crop materials when the forward belt 231 moves from the Fig. 12 position. The biasing spring 259 acts between the vertical spacer 25? and a bracket 2' which is fixedly attached to the feed unit housing 295.

The feeding unit G is power driven from the baler mechanism by means of a conventional fiat drive belt 213 (Figs. 8 and 15). The upper end of the shaft 239 for the rear feed belt drive roll 283d is provided with a pulley T5 which is engaged by the fiat drive belt 273, and suitable idler pulleys 21-2 and 2% (Fig. 15) are journalled on vertically extending stub shafts 2B! and 283 which ar attached to the top member N3 of the feed unit housing 205. The pulley 275 is the main drive pulley. As the drive belt 273 extends from the driving mechanism in a horizontal plane and since the idlers 211 and 219 and the pulley 275 on the rear feed belt drive shaft 239 extend vertically, suitable means are required for turning the belt on edge in order that it may engage the main drive pulley 215. This means will be described in the section entitled Power Drive Connections.

A pulley 285 is keyed to the lower end of the rear feed belt drive shaft 239 and this is operatively connected to a pulley 281 on the lower end of the forward feed belt drive shaft 249 by means of a suitable V-belt 289. A spring biased belt tightener 29| is provided on the run of belt 289 to insure a positive drive connection. The belt tightener 29l includes a bell crank lever 293, one arm of which is pivotally attached to the bottom member 201 of the feed unit housing 205 by means of a pin 295, and the other arm of which supports a belt tightener pulley 291. A

spring 299 extends from the juncture of the two arms of the bell crank lever 293 to a fixed point on the feed unit housing 295 in order to provide the proper tension for the belt 289.

The auger I99 is driven, by means of a V-belt 393, from a pulley 30| keyed to th upper end of the forward feed belt drive shaft 249. The V- lcelt 393 connects the pulley 30! with a pulley 335 keyed to the outer journal section 2|! of the auger I99 and the connection includes a suitable reversing pulley 391 and a belt tightener pulley 399. The V-belt extends from the pulley 39! on the forward feed belt drive shaft 249 around the belt tightener pulley 399 which engages the back, or flat side of the V-belt 393. The belt tightener pulley 399 is of the same type as the belt tightened pulley 29'! which has been described in con-- nection with the belt 289, and includes abell crank lever 3H and a biasing spring 3l3. The inner, or V, surface of the-belt 393 then passes around the fixed reversing pulley 391' which is journalled on a vertically extending shaft 3 l 5 attached in the top member 2l3 of the feed unit housing 295. The belt 393 then runs over an idler pulley 3|! which is supported on a lon-gitudinally extending, horizontally disposed shaft 319, around the drive pulley 395 on the journal section 211, upwardly around. an idler pulley 32! V which is supported on a longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed shaft 323 and back to the pulley 3!.

Under some operating conditions, it is desirable to provide a fixed backing plate (not shown) to reinforce the inner runs of the feed belts 29! and 203 which engage the crop materials. The backing plate should be suitably shaped so as to prevent undue wear on the belt and in some instances can be resiliently biased against the run of its associated belt. A backing plate insures a more positive pressure on the material being baled and results in even more effective precompression.

Under some operating conditions a single feed belt may be used to compress the material being baled instead of the three belt sections 221 described above, but it has been. found that for the most emcient precompression a multiplicity of belt sections 22'! have an advantage in that they can be held at a greater tension without causing the belts to run out of line.

In the foregoing, there has been described a novel feeding unit for a baler which is adapted 14' to deliver the material being baled into the baling chamber in a precompressed, vertically ex--',

tending ribbon. The feeding of the material into a baler in this form causes the bales to have, flat sides and square corners, and to be of a,

uniform density through its length and its cross sectional area.

distributed vertically across the baling chamber and thus prevent the density variations which are usually noted when ordinary feeding arrangements are used.

Boiling chamber The baling chamber B is supported upon the longitudinally extending portion of the frame of the prime mover in a position adjacent the' discharge end of the feed belts 21' and 293 (Fig: 13). The baling chamber B is fabricated from:

suitable plate members 325 (Fig. 18) which are welded or otherwise fastened together to form the top, the bottom, and the sides of the rectangularly shaped chamber. The rectangular opening 225into the baling chamber is located adjacent the outlet end of the feed belts 2! and 293, and the material being baled is fed into the chamber through this opening. A plurality of vent holes 32'! are provided in the bottom surface of the baling chamber B so that the 3 pressure of air within the chamber remains normal during the balingoperation (Fig. 18).

A baling plunger or piston 329, having a rectangular cross section, is slidably supported within the baling chamber B. The proportions of the piston are such that it fits closely within the a baling chamber thereby assuring that the crop materials will be eiiiciently compressed. The

piston 329 is reciprocated by means of a crank shaft 333 which is rotatably journalled in suitend of the baling able bearings at the forward chamber B (Figs. 3 and 25). The connection ing rod 335.

chamber.

or fabricated fly wheel 33! is attached thereto.

It is possible to reciprocate the baling piston 329 f in various ways, as for example by the use of a cam keyed to a cross shaft, the cam operating against a spring biased push rod which is connected to the baling piston 329. Under some circumstances a variable speed stroke, such as would be obtained by the action of a cam, may be desirable. For example, the compression stroke can be slowed down with a corresponding increase in the speed of the return stroke. Also the piston can be caused to pause momentarily at the beginning of the power stroke, thereby keeping the feed opening unobstructed for a greater period of time during each stroke despite the use ofa slow compression stroke.

A shearing blade 339 is attached to the side of the piston which is adjacent the intake or feed-- ing opening 225 by meansof a plurality of. cap The shearing blade .339' cooperates with a fixed shear plate 343 which is attached to the rearward edge of the intake screws 3M (Fig. 18).

opening 225 (Fig. 13). On each stroke of the baling piston 329, the crop material being baled is cut off by the shear blade 339 as the crop is qm e d s hattthe a e mat rial orms Under conditions of extremely, light feeding, the feed belts which are resiliently. biased together cause the material to be evenlyv 

